Monarda plant named ‘Leading Lady Amethyst’

ABSTRACT

The new and distinct cultivar of ornamental cultivar of hybrid ornamental Bee Balm plant named  Monarda  ‘Leading Lady Amethyst’ with deep-green, moderately-glossy, powdery mildew-tolerant foliage, flower heads of light amethyst-purple with lighter interiors effectively showing off the dark purple spots on the inner surface. The plant habit is short, compact, tightly clumping and winter-hardy, useful in the landscape as a specimen, en masse, or as a containerized plant.

BOTANICAL DESIGNATION AND CULTIVAR DENOMINATION

Botanical classification: Monarda hybrid.

Variety denomination: ‘Leading Lady Amethyst’.

STATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES UNDER 37 CFR 1.77(b)(6)

The first public disclosure of the claimed plant, in the form of a sale, was made by Walters Gardens, Inc. on Jul. 12, 2021 to Natorp's Nursery. Prior to that, on Dec. 1, 2020 the claimed plant was displayed with a non-enabling photograph and brief description in a website operated by Walters Gardens, Inc., and on May 21, 2021 as a non-enabling photograph and brief description in the “Walters Gardens 21-22 Catalog” by Walters Gardens, Inc., who obtained the plant and all information relating thereto, from the inventor. No plants of Monarda ‘Leading Lady Amethyst’ have been sold, in this country or anywhere in the world, nor has any disclosure of the new plant been made more than one year prior the filing date of this application, and such sale or disclosure within one year was either derived directly or indirectly from the inventor.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the new and distinct cultivar of Bee Balm, botanically known as Monarda ‘Leading Lady Amethyst’, and hereinafter also referred to solely by the cultivar ‘Leading Lady Amethyst’ or the “new plant.” Monarda ‘Leading Lady Amethyst’ was the result of a controlled self-pollination in the summer of Jul. 17, 2015 in trial garden at a wholesale perennial nursery in Zeeland, Mich., USA. The parent is a proprietary, unnamed, unreleased hybrid known as 14-57-1 (not patented). The new plant was separated out for further evaluation in the summer of 2017 in the seedling field of the same nursery and assigned the breeder code 15-51-1. The new plant is the result of a planned breeding program of the inventor to produce new colors of flowers with superior mildew resistance, and improved compact habit. The new plant has been asexually propagated since 2017 by division and by basal stem cuttings at the same nursery in the greenhouses in Zeeland, Mich., and the subsequent generations of asexually propagated plants found to be stable and identical to the original selection.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE PLANT

Monarda ‘Leading Lady Amethyst’ is unique from its parents and all other Bee Balm plants known to the inventor. The nearest comparison cultivars known to the inventor are ‘Leading Lady Plum’ U.S. Plant Pat. No. 26,447, ‘Pardon My Lavender’ U.S. Plant Pat. No. 28,770 and ‘Pardon My Lavender II’ U.S. Plant patent application Ser. No. 17/300,859.

‘Leading Lady Plum’ has a similar habit with magenta-purple flowers with darker spots. ‘Pardon My Lavender’ has flowers of lavender-purple color without darker spots and is slightly taller in habit and not as resistant to powdery mildew. ‘Pardon My Lavender II’ has a slightly taller habit, but the flower color is a darker lavender purple and lacks the dark spots on the petals. ‘Leading Lady Amethyst’ flowers earlier than ‘Pardon My Lavender’ and ‘Pardon My Lavender II’.

The parent is more open and taller in habit than the new plant and is lighter amethyst-lavender in flower color.

Monarda ‘Leading Lady Amethyst’ is distinct from all Bee Balm plants known to the inventor. The following are traits of the new plant that in combination distinguish it from all other Bee Balm known to the inventor:

-   -   1. Short, compact, clumping, upright mound that is winter-hardy         habit;     -   2. Lanceolate to cordate, deep-green, moderately-glossy, powdery         mildew-tolerant foliage;     -   3. Compact, light amethyst-purple flowers with lighter interiors         effectively show off the dark purple spots;     -   4. Flowering over a five-week-long period beginning early June;     -   5. Flowering in dense verticils.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The photographs of the new plant demonstrate the unique traits of Monarda ‘Leading Lady Amethyst’ and the overall appearance of a three-years-old plant in the full sun trial garden of a nursery in Zeeland, Mich. The colors are as accurate as reasonably possible with color reproductions. Variation in ambient light spectrum, source and direction may cause the appearance of minor variation in color.

FIG. 1 shows the habit of the new plant in full flower.

FIG. 2 shows a close-up of the flower of the new plant.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The following descriptions and color references are based on the 2015 edition of The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart except where common dictionary terms are used. Monarda ‘Leading Lady Amethyst’ has not been observed under all possible environments. The phenotype may vary slightly with different growing environments such as temperature, light, fertility, soil pH, moisture and maturity levels, but without any change in the genotype. The following observations and size descriptions are based on two-year-old plants grown in a trial garden at a nursery in Zeeland, Mich. with supplemental fertilizer and water as needed.

-   Botanical classification: Monarda hybrid; -   Parentage: The parent is 14-57-1, an unreleased proprietary hybrid; -   Plant habit: Hardy herbaceous perennial, dense, upright mound,     producing multiple stems spreading by short rhizomes near the base     of the stems; foliage up to 32.0 cm tall, flowering to 38.0 cm tall     and 47.0 cm wide; flowering begins early June in Michigan and     continuing for about 5 weeks; -   Propagation: Stem cuttings; -   Time to produce finished crop in 3.8-liter pots: About 7 to 9 weeks;     moderate rate of growth; -   Root: Fine, fibrous and freely branching; color creamy white to tan     depending on soil type; -   Leaves: Simple; lanceolate to cordate; opposite; margin serrated     with 10 to 12 teeth per side, to 2 mm wide and 1.5 mm long;     puberulent adaxial and abaxial; moderately lustrous adaxial, matte     abaxial; acute apex; cordate to rounded base; to about 8.0 cm long     and 2.8 cm wide, average about 5.5 cm long and 2.4 cm wide near     base; -   Leaf color: Young expanding leaves adaxial nearest RHS 146B, abaxial     nearest RHS 146C; mature leaves adaxial between RHS 137A and RHS     136A, abaxial between RHS 138A and RHS 137C; without significant     anthocyanins; -   Foliage fragrance: Pleasant lemony-herbal; -   Veins: Pinnate; glabrous and slightly sunken adaxial,     micro-puberulent and costate abaxial; -   Vein color: Young adaxial midrib between RHS 146D and RHS 148C and     primary veins nearest RHS 146C; abaxial midrib nearest RHS 145C and     primary veins nearest RHS 146C; mature adaxial midrib nearest RHS     146D, primary veins variable between RHS 145C and RHS 146D, mature     abaxial midrib nearest RHS 146D and primary veins nearest RHS 146C; -   Petiole: Glabrescent adaxial and puberulent abaxial, slightly     concaved above; to about 7.0 mm long and 2.5 mm across at base;     strength medium; -   Petiole color: Adaxial nearest RHS146A and abaxial nearest RHS 146D; -   Stems: Quadrangular; glabrous; about 3.0 mm across at base; about 8     per plant; naturally branched at upper nodes; average 3.2 cm between     nodes greater distally; 9 to 12 nodes per stem; average length about     38 cm; average internode length 3.5 cm; -   Stem color: Nearest RHS 146B with slight anthocyanin blushing of     nearest RHS 187B; nodes same color as surrounding stem; -   Flowers: Single, bilabiate flowers arranged in mostly terminal     verticils forming globular inflorescence head about 70.0 mm across     and 28.0 mm tall, opening from the center and progressing outwardly     and down; attitude outwardly to upwardly; individual flowers to     about 34.0 mm long to exserted stigma, corolla to 29 mm long, 14.0     mm tall and about 6.0 mm across; individual flowers persisting about     5 days in Michigan; numerous, about 150 to 200 flowers per terminal     head, fewer per axillary head; 100 inflorescences with open flowers     at one time; -   Flower fragrance: Moderately spicy; -   Buds one to two days prior to opening: Clavate, arcuate downward;     glandular to puberulent; about 25.0 mm long and 3.5 mm across and     4.0 mm tall; -   Bud color: Dorsal lip distally nearest RHS 77A, side portion nearest     RHS N80B; ventral lip lower and distal portion nearest RHS 76B with     spotted undertone of nearest RHS N77A; -   Petals: Bilabiate; arcuate downward; basal 18.0 mm fused into tube;     split in two in the distal 11.0 mm; abaxial glandular to puberulent     except basal 12 mm of abaxial and adaxial glabrous; self-cleaning; -   Upper labium: Folded in distal portion, about 11.0 mm long from     fusion to acute emarginate apex, 2.0 mm tall, 2.0 mm across at base; -   Lower labium: About 15.0 mm long from fusion to apex, 3.5 mm wide at     fusion and 7.5 mm wide a lobes when flattened, apex comprising three     lobes including two side lobes about 1.0 mm long and 3.0 mm across     with rounded apex; center lobe bent upwardly at base, about 4.0 mm     long and 2.0 mm wide with emarginate apex cleft about 1.0 mm deep;     main portion with darker spots between 0.2 mm and 1.0 mm across; -   Petal color: Upper labium adaxial basal 4.0 mm nearest RHS NN155B,     distally nearest RHS N80A, abaxial basal 4.0 mm nearest RHS NN155B,     distally between RHS 83A and RHS N81A; lower labium adaxial surface     nearest RHS N81B at margins and nearest RHS 72A near center distal     portion, adaxial middle between RHS N78C and RHS N78D with spots     nearest RHS 79B; abaxial distal 15 mm portion nearest RHS N81 C and     middle portion nearest RHS N78B with spots showing through of     nearest moderate undertone of nearest RHS 79B; corolla tube adaxial     and abaxial proximal 4.0 mm nearest RHS NN155C; -   Androecium: Two; adnate inner corolla tube in basal portion;     -   -   Filaments.—Two; curved downward; adnate the inner corolla             tube in the basal 16.0 mm and free in the distal 16.0 mm;             about 0.5 mm diameter; color in free portion nearest RHS             N80B, color in adnate portion nearest RHS 84B.         -   Anther.—Oblong elliptic; dorsifixed; longitudinal; fused             together; 3.0 mm long by 0.7 mm wide; color nearest RHS             N79C.         -   Pollen.—Abundant, elliptic to globose, less than 0.1 mm;             color nearest RHS 10A. -   Gynoecium: One; superior; about 30.0 mm long; -   Pistil: One per flower; exserted about 5.0 mm beyond upper labium     when mature; -   Style: Cylindrical; glabrous; about 29.0 mm long and about 0.3 mm     diameter; arcuate inside upper labium; color nearest RHS 79C in     distal 5.0 mm transitioning to nearest RHS NN155C in middle and     basal portion; -   Stigma: Unevenly bifid in the distal 1.0 mm and about 0.2 mm     diameter; color nearest RHS 79A; -   Ovary: Conical; about 1.0 mm tall by 0.75 mm diameter; color nearest     RHS 145D; -   Calyx: Tubular; consisting of five fused sepals; about 9.0 mm long     and 2.0 mm diameter at apex; -   Sepals: Five; lanceolate; narrowly acute apex; basal 8.0 mm fused     forming calyx tube, free in distal 1.0 mm; margin ciliolate; about     9.0 mm long and 2.0 mm across at fusion; glabrous abaxial, glabrous     adaxial except throat pubescent; persistent; -   Sepal color: Adaxial and abaxial distal 2.0 mm nearest RHS 187A,     middle abaxial fused portion nearest RHS 146D and abaxial basal 1.0     mm nearest RHS 158B; adaxial basal 1.0 mm portion nearest RHS 158B     and between base and free apical portion nearest RHS 76B with     spotted undertone of nearest RHS N77A; -   Foliar bracts: Typically one set of five to seven large bracts on     the outside per inflorescence and one set of six smaller bracts in     the middle and one set of about 20 to 28 smaller narrow bracts on     the inside below each inflorescence; outer bracts lanceolate with     acute apex and attenuate sessile base, micro-ciliolate margin,     glabrous adaxial, puberulent abaxial, flat to coarsely wavy, matte     adaxial and abaxial, to 48.0 mm long and 18.0 mm wide in middle;     middle six bracts linear with narrowly acute apex and truncate base,     ciliolate margin, glabrous adaxial and micro-puberulent abaxial, to     about 22.0 mm long and 5.0 mm across near middle, innermost bracts     linear, narrowly acute apex and truncate base, ciliolate margin,     adaxial and abaxial glabrous, to about 17.0 mm long and 2.5 mm     across at base; -   Foliar bract color: Outer bract adaxial between RHS 187A and RHS     N186B distally transitioning to nearest RHS NN137B in middle and RHS     145B at base, midrib nearest RHS 186A, color abaxial nearest RHS     138B with midrib nearest RHS 145C with variable blush of nearest RHS     187B; middle six bracts adaxial color distal nearest RHS 187A,     middle portion nearest RHS 137B with midrib nearest RHS 186A and     base nearest RHS145D, abaxial color nearest 146C in middle with apex     strongly blushed with RHS 187A and base nearest RHS 145D; innermost     bracts distally adaxial and abaxial nearest RHS 187B and proximally     adaxial and abaxial transitioning to nearest RHS 145D at base; -   Pedicel: Glabrous, cylindrical; to about 1.5 mm long and 0.7 mm     diameter; -   Pedicel color: Nearest RHS 195B; -   Peduncle: Stiff, strong, erect, glabrous, quadrangular; to about 3.0     mm across and average 45.0 mm long above node; about 100 per plant;     naturally branched at nodes; -   Peduncle color: Nearest RHS 146C with slight blushing of nearest RHS     187B; -   Fruit: Typically one or two, rarely four, glabrous, lustrous,     ellipsoidal nutlet; about 1.2 mm long and 0.7 mm wide; color between     RHS 165A and RHS 166A; -   Hardiness: The new plant grows best with plenty of moisture and     adequate drainage; hardy to at least from USDA zone 4 through 8. -   Disease and pest resistance: Demonstrated greater than average     powdery mildew tolerance of Erysiphe necator in side-by-side     comparison with other Monarda. 

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of hybrid ornamental Bee Balm plant named Monarda ‘Leading Lady Amethyst’, as herein described and illustrated. 